Open for Business

Over a 36-year food and beverage career, Nick Russo now has seven restaurants to his name. The latest is The Venice at the Seville, which opened April 18 at 216 E. Walnut St. Russo also owns St. Michael’s, another downtown Springfield spot, named after his Atlantic City, N.J., grade school. The Venice is co-owned by Nick and Jenny Russo and Jeff and Sandy Frye. The Venice carries an unusual concept for Russo: limited evening hours in a sophisticated setting equipped with a martini and wine bar. “I thought it was time to reinvent myself,” Russo said. A “varied menu” includes sandwiches, salads, soups and pasta specials, as well as microbrews by Boulevard, Anchor Steam, New Belgium and Schlafly, he said. Russo named the place after a restaurant his godfather owned across the street from Russo’s childhood school. “I’ve honored the nuns, I’ve honored my father, I’ve honored the Dodgers … I’ve covered a lot of bases,” Russo joked about his restaurant startups, including Pop’s Malt Shop and Ebbets Field. The space, which is attached to the Lofts at the Seville, was formerly occupied by Emack & Bolio’s and most recently Lettuce Cater to You Café. Hours: 5 p.m.–1 a.m. Thursday through Saturday. Phone: (417) 831-2355.

Jump Mania

Business partners Suzanne Esch and Susan Gilreath started Jump Mania on June 6 at 2745 S. Kansas Expressway, Ste. B-120, in Kansas Plaza. The nearly 9,000-square-foot facility houses six inflatable pieces for child and family entertainment. Birthday party packages and “open jump” hours are available, Esch said. Birthdays cost between $200 and $350, and the open-jump flat-fees are $5 per child before 4 p.m. and $8 after, she said; adults are free. “Adult participation is encouraged,” Esch noted, adding that two other inflatables are available for rent. Hours: noon–8 p.m. Monday, Tuesday and Thursday; 9 a.m.–7 p.m. Wednesday; noon–9 p.m. Friday and Saturday; noon–7 p.m. Sunday. Phone: (417) 881-5867.

Ridemakerz

America’s custom-car trend has spawned a new business in Branson. Ridemakerz opened March 31 at 903 Branson Landing Blvd., where customers create their own toy cars from chassis to decals. Options include body styles, paint, rims, lights, spoilers and personalized license plates for the approximately 1-foot cars, which start at $12 to $29 depending on models. A radio-control option is another $25. The retailer is modeled after the Build-A-Bear Workshop concept, which also is an investor in St. Louis-based Ridemakerz LLC, according to company officials. During its grand opening, Ridemakerz donated $1,292 to Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Ozarks in Stone and Taney counties, spokesman Jeff Bachmann said. Matt Patton manages the Branson store, one of 10 in the chain. Hours: 10 a.m.–9 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 10 a.m.–7 p.m. Sunday. Phone: (417) 336-4001.

Compiled by Eric Olson. Springfield Business Journal brings you new businesses each week. Send business info by fax to (417) 799-0603 or by e-mail to sbj@sbj.net.